History & Imperialism in South, Southeast, and

East Asia

What is imperialism? • a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining

control over other areas of the world

What was the main imperialistic power in South Asia?

India

• Main imperial power in South Asia = Britain• Mahatma Gandhi – famous for protesting for Indian independence. Believed

in non-violence. Staged peaceful protests and fasted as a form of protest. • 1947 – Indian Independence • Spilt into two countries:

• Majority Hindu = India• Majority Muslim = Pakistan• Disputed region = Kashmir

China • China had been ruled by dynasties • Dynasty = A family of rulers who rule over the same country for a long

period of time

China• Europeans wanted many of the goods that China exported (like silk, tea,

and porcelain), but China didn’t want any of Europe’s goods and wanted to avoid European interference so China limits trade• British begin illegally bringing in Opium from Afghanistan region in

order to trade for goods they want – leads to the Opium Wars (1839-1842 and 1856-1860)• China lost the Opium Wars.

Results: • China hands over Hong Kong with the Macau port to British who will control

the city until 1997• Must open up their ports to more European trade = Sphere of Influence –

an area over which a country has exclusive trading rights. • Weakened power of Chinese dynasties and will eventually lead to the

communist takeover of China

China • Dynastic rule ends in 1911• Civil war until 1949 when Mao Zedong declares China a communist

country.

What is the only Asian country to be an imperialistic power in the region?

Japan • Japan is called “The Land of the Rising Sun”• Japan is the only nation that is not colonized or divided into spheres of

influence in the region AND Japan is the only Asian country to be an imperialistic power themselves. WHY? • Japan starts to modernize in the mid 1800s after the US forces them to start trading with

Western countries. Japan realizes they need to modernize in order to be able to protect themselves. • Japan had limited natural resources so in order to get stronger, they start imperialistic

conquests of their own.

Japan’s Empire 1931

Nanking Massacre1937 - soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army murdered an estimated 40,000 to over 300,000 Chinese and perpetrated widespread rape and looting

US imperialism in Asia

• What is the main country that the US will colonize in 1898? • The Philippines!

• From which country did the US gain The Philippines? • Spain

• Full independence comes in 1946

US Involvement Korea and Vietnam

Which imperial power took over Korea?

Korean War• Japan (The Axis Powers) lost WWII. Korea has been a colony

of Japan so at the end of the war it was divided between the US and USSR.• North = USSR controlled / Communist• South = US controlled / Democratic

• US and USSR withdrew in 1949 • 1950 North Korea invades South Korea• United Nations votes to protect South Korea. China gets

involved b/c felt threatened• Three years of fighting – stalemate (a tie)• Keep Korea divided at the 38th parallel

Demilitarized Zone • The area dividing North and

South Korea at the 38th Parallel • Heavily fortified on both

sides

Who colonized Vietnam?

Vietnam War 1955-1975• After WWII, Communists and Nationalists revolt against French rule. • French eventually withdraw and the country is divided into North

Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (democratic)• North Vietnam invades South Vietnam and the US tries to stop this • Stalemate and US withdraws in 1975. Communists take over and unite

the whole country